The Sequoia’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Suburban doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Sequoia’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Suburban’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sequoia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Suburban.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Sequoia has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Suburban.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sequoia has a standard 180-amp alternator. The Suburban’s standard 150-amp alternator and largest (6.2 V8) 170-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sequoia’s reliability 19 points higher than the Suburban.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sequoia second among large suvs in their 2019 Initial Quality Study. The Suburban isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fourth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 23rd.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Sequoia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Suburban with the 6.2 V8 engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sequoia higher (5 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Suburban (3). This means the Sequoia produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Suburban every 15,000 miles.

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Sequoia has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Suburban has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Sequoia has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sequoia flat and controlled during cornering. The Suburban’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Sequoia’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.4% to 49.6%) than the Suburban’s (52% to 48%). This gives the Sequoia more stable handling and braking.

The Sequoia TRD Sport 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Suburban Premier 4WD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trendskidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Sequoia Platinum has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Suburban (9.6 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Sequoia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sequoia’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the Suburban (10 vs. 7.9 inches).

If the front windows are left open on the Sequoia the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Suburban can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Sequoia has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Suburban doesn’t offer headlight washers.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sequoia is less expensive to operate than the Suburban because it costs $464 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sequoia than the Suburban, including $370 less for a muffler, $31 less for front brake pads, $64 less for fuel injection and $251 less for a power steering pump.